What is SQL INJECTION and how to prevent it?
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18-Jul-2024
Updated on 18-Jul-2024
Ashutosh Kumar Verma
18-Jul-2024SQL Injection
SQL Injection is a security vulnerability when an attacker is able to insert or execute malicious SQL queries through input fields or application parameters This can result in unauthorized access or modification of the database, potentially resulting in data corruption , data loss, or system crash.
How SQL injection works
an attacker could insert SQL code into a form field or URL parameter that is not supported by the application or does not clean up properly. This allows the database to execute random commands. For example, a login form with direct user input into a SQL query can be simple.
Example
In this example, if the
Username
field is not properly sanitized, the attacker can useOR ‘1’ = ‘1’
to bypass authentication and retrieve all records.Preventing SQL Injection
Use Prepared Statements and Parameterized Queries
These techniques separate SQL code from data input, ensuring that user input is treated as data, not executable code.
Use stored procedures
Place SQL queries in stored procedures to reduce direct user manipulation of variables.
Escape User Inputs
If parameterized queries are not possible, make sure you have properly escaped special characters to neutralize potential threats.
Validate and Sanitize Input
Use rigorous input validation to ensure data conforms to required formats and reject potentially harmful input.
Use ORM (Object-Relational Mapping) Libraries
These libraries typically handle custom queries and pull out plain SQL code, reducing the risk of injection
By combining these techniques, you can significantly reduce the risk of SQL injection and protect your database and applications from exploitation.
Also, Read: Why is the SQL Wildcard (LIKE) Operator in the query?